2LT Ralph I. Jones, P-51 (43-6851) 'Birmingham Boomerang' Crash Marker
Details:
About 30 meters off the roadside.
MarkerAn inscribed obelisk style memorial that includes a photo of the pilot. The memorial area also includes an information sign and a park bench.
The memorial remembers 2LT Ralph I. Jones of the 308th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, 15th US Air Force who crashed here on August 28, 1944 flying P-51 (43-6851) 'Birmingham Boomerang'. 2LT Jones was on his first mission flying from San Severo Air Base, Italy on a bomber escort mission to Moosbierbaum oil refinery and adjacent chemical works 25 miles northwest of Vienna, Austria. He was wingman to the 'Ace' First Lieutenant Walter J. Goehausen, Jr. After the mission the escort aircraft engaged enemy aircraft and 2LT Jones was shot down. The local population buried 2LT Jones in nearby Jeviovic. In 1946 the towns people built the monument at the crash site and 2LT Jones is buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in France (Grave: C, 11, 89). 2LT Jones was 19 years old.
Sources:
https://aafcollection.com/comm/2014/05/18/a-hero-not-forgotten/
http://www.leteckabadatelna.cz/havarie-a-sestrely/detail/29/
Mission 263 - Aug 29,1944 / Letecká bitva 29.8.1944 Facebook page for photos
Monument Text:
The text on the memorial is inscribed in Czech:
Na památku americkému letci
zde sestelenému v leteckém boji
28.8.1944
Poruík RALPH I JONES
Translation:
In memory of the American airman
shot down here in aerial combat
28.8.1944
Lieutenant RALPH I JONES








